CBS Is Being Sued Over a Farting Hippo

NCIS, a show that sometimes plays on the TVs they have on display at the Union Square Best Buy, has a years-long running gag involving a plush farting hippo named Bert (it’s funny because it’s a hippo, that farts). Now CBS is being sued by the hippo’s original manufacturer, Folkmanis Inc., who allege that CBS paid a Chinese company for farting hippoknockoffs.

According to the lawsuit, Delivery Agent Inc., one of the named defendants, teamed up with another defendant, S.F. Global Sourcing, to contact Shanghai Orlind Toy Co., a company in China. Their alleged mission: procure unlicensed Bert the Farting Hippo toys to sell forCBS.

The mission was allegedly successful, which led to CBS selling the China-produced Bert the Farting Hippo toys, and ending its orders withFolkmanis.

Folkmanis is suing CBS and affiliates for copyright infringement, and is asking for $730,000. The dignity lost after filing a suit about a farting hippo will not berecouped.